Strong Yankee tops Breeders Crown field

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Strong Yankee beat Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo by a length Saturday in the $610,000 3-year-old colt and gelding trot in the Breeders Crown races at the Meadowlands.
The trot was one of eight Breeders Crowns races worth a combined $4.3 million that are the season-ending championships in harness racing.
Strong Yankee covered a mile in 1:53 4/5 and paid $4. He earned $305,000 for the Strong Yankee Stable of Port Perry, Ontario.
Vivid Photo was the division leader following the Hambletonian, the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, held in August at the Meadowlands. But Strong Yankee took the last two legs of the Triple Crown, the Yonkers Trot and The Kentucky Futurity.
"He's just been super since the Yonkers Trot," winning driver Brian Sears said. "I don't know what it is, but he's been terrific."
Sears and trainer Trond Smedshammer also combined to win the $500,000 3-year-old filly trot with Blur, who paid $8.40 to win.
In other Breeders Crown races:
--Passionate Glide won the $516,800 2-year-old filly trot, the first of two winners driven by Ron Pierce. Passionate Glide returned $15.20 to win.
--Pierce also guided the unbeaten My Little Dragon to victory in the $500,000 2-year-old filly pace. My Little Dragon won her sixth straight and $3.40 to win.
--Chocolatier captured the $507,600 2-year-old colt and gelding trot, and 78-year-old Doug Ackerman became the oldest trainer to win a Breeders Crown. Chocolatier paid $3.20 to win.